The City of Charlottetown will host a commemorative tree planting as one of fifty communities in Canada that received funding through CN EcoConnexions, Tree Canada’s Tree to Our Nature program and the Government of Canada in celebration of Canada’s 150th.

The commemorative tree planting event will be held on Friday, July 7 at 10 a.m. in Rochford Square. The Confederation Players will emcee and perform two Victorian songs. There are three commemorative trees: a sugar maple, representing Canada; a red oak, representing PEI; and a white birch, representing First Nations. Representatives from Tree Canada, CN, the City of Charlottetown, along with other dignitaries will plant one of the trees in Rochford Square and two will be planted in Victoria Park.

"We received just over $25,000 and will be using the funding to further our efforts to replace trees lost to disease and insect pests such as Dutch elm disease, storms and other stressors," said Charlottetown Mayor Clifford Lee. "We will be planting trees throughout the city, which will increase our tree canopy cover, help protect ecologically sensitive areas and provide many other environmental benefits. The project will also provide a means to raise public awareness and distribute educational material such as the benefits of healthy forests and getting out in nature and invasive species management. We thank our partners for their support and invite the public to join us for this symbolic tree planting."

This is the sixth year of the CN EcoConnexions - From the Ground Up program, sponsored by CN in partnership with Tree Canada and Communities in Bloom. The program provides funding of up to $25,000 for the greening of municipal and First Nations properties across Canada. The Tree to our Nature program is a Tree Canada 150 project, with funding from the Government of Canada.

"All across the world, trees are a symbol of growth, strength, sustainability, hope, and peace," said Michael Rosen, President of Tree Canada. "Our Canada 150 tree-planting celebrations are a perfect way to commemorate Canada’s legacy in a positive, meaningful and lasting way, all while engaging people from coast to coast to coast."

Since CN launched From the Ground Up in 2012, more than 60,000 trees and shrubs have been planted, helping to enhance the environmental and social health of 150 communities across Canada. Through its various tree planting initiatives, including From the Ground Up, CN has planted 1.2 million trees across North America since 2011.

"We are proud to be part of a program that helps make communities across Canada better places to live, work and play," said Luc Jobin, president and chief executive officer of CN. "In hundreds of Canadian communities, the railway has been a part of life for generations. We honour that history, and we proudly look toward our shared future with these Canada 150 celebrations."

"The environment is one of the major themes at the heart of the celebrations for the 150th anniversary of Confederation, which is why the Government of Canada is pleased to support Tree Canada," said the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage. "The Canada 150 project ‘Tree to Our Nature’ will not only leave a lasting legacy for future generations, but also allow Canadians to get closer to nature and increase their environmental awareness. As Minister of Canadian Heritage, I would like to acknowledge everyone taking part in this inspiring and unifying project. I applaud your efforts to help build healthy, sustainable communities."

This project has been made possible in part by the Government of Canada.Ce projet a été rendu possible en partie par le gouvernement du Canada.

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About CN:CN is a true backbone of the economy, transporting approximately C$250 billion worth of goods annually for a wide range of business sectors, ranging from resource products to manufactured products to consumer goods, across a rail network spanning Canada and mid-America. CN – Canadian National Railway Company, along with its operating railway subsidiaries — serves the cities and ports of Vancouver, Prince Rupert, B.C., Montreal, Halifax, New Orleans, and Mobile, Ala., and the metropolitan areas of Toronto, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Calgary, Chicago, Memphis, Detroit, Duluth, Minn./Superior, Wis., and Jackson, Miss., with connections to all points in North America. For more information, visit: www.cn.ca

About Tree Canada:Tree Canada is a not-for-profit charitable organization established to encourage Canadians to plant and care for trees in urban and rural environments. Tree Canada engages Canadian companies, government agencies and individuals to support the planting of trees, the greening of schoolyards, and other efforts to sensitize Canadians to the benefits of planting and maintaining trees. Since 1992, more than 80 million trees have been planted, over 580 schoolyards have been greened, and Tree Canada has helped organize twelve national urban forest conferences with the next Canadian Urban Forest Conference taking place in Vancouver, B.C. in 2017. More information about Tree Canada is available at: www.treecanada.ca